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Paris Affordable Dining Guide

Follow this frugal-foodie itinerary in the City of Lights.

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Rating: 5 out of 5 by EveryTrail members

Difficulty: Easy

Duration: Full day

Overview :
Ditch foie gras and postprandial Armagnac: Here is your guide to real food, satisfying food, inventive food that packs savvy Parisians... more » into intimate restaurants. Good thing for us the next generation of European chefs has been in recession mode for some time. less «

Points of Interest

Here, striped Basque runners on tables and a wine list scrawled on distressed mirrors set the mood for chef Julien Duboué’s playful exuberance: a cheeky boudin noir “napoleon” richly layered with apples; a whole magret (duck breast) baked on a bed of grape leaves atop a clay roof shingle. Those without reservations can drop in for some... More equally whimsical tapas at the tall communal table in the front room—perhaps a wooden clog piled high with crisp-fried calamari? Wherever you sit, end with orange beignettes and a heady shot of raspberry-spiked, unoaked Armagnac (recipe courtesy of the chef’s Basque grandma). Having honed his craft at the luxe Four Seasons Hotel George V, Duboué got turned down by nine banks before securing funding for his new solo venture. Now, his backers must be patting themselves on the back. “You won’t believe how many famous Parisian chefs have been in!” Duboué adds. Hey, why not? They love a good tasty deal just like we do.

The trendy Upper Marais district in Paris is no stranger to strollers and hipsters, but it also houses some of the best and most inexpensive crepes in the world at Breizh Café. The ambiance is warm and lively, with a distinct Japanese flavor in the form of pale wood and low-lighting. The backbone of the eclectic menu is the quality of... More ingredients: farmers’ eggs, rich, unpasteurized Gruyère, fresh shiitake mushrooms, and locally made Jean-Yves Bordier butter for starters. Artisan ciders and Breton cola pair spectacularly with Cancale oysters and Chantilly dessert crêpes alike.

Parisian foodies are mad for the $47 blackboard menu at Itinéraires. After the smashing success of their original restaurant in the 11th, Sylvain and Sarah Sendra recently upgraded to these grown-up premises in the Latin Quarter. In a softly lit room brightened with palm trees and flowers, chic couples of all ages fall in love all over... More again—with each other and with their deconstructed lemon tarts. Order the beef cheeks, elevated from the mundane by electric-pink splashes of beet jus and a double-textured potato purée. A thin ring of carrot reduction around vanilla-tinged celery-root emulsion lends mystique to the boned rabbit.

Whether you’re stopping in to buy foie gras from the grocery or settling in for a leisurely brunch or lunch overlooking the idyllic Canal Saint Martin, La Cantine de Quentin is a worthy destination. The wood-paneled facade and smattering of covered bistro tables out front connote classic Parisian sidewalk cafe, while the interior walls are lined... More with gourmet groceries from the countryside and delectable wines. Be sure to conclude your lunch or brunch with an order of crème brûlée or chocolate-covered raisins, and pair either with one of their mouth-watering sauternes.

Address:
52 Rue Bichat
Paris
France

Phone:
33-1-42-02-40-32Less

5. L’Agassin

Everything about this sleek room in shades of café au lait suggests a serious restaurant, but the set-meal prices say bistro. Formerly of La Tour d’Argent, Breton chef André Le Letty shows how saucing can dazzle with his garlicky escargots scattered on a backdrop of emerald parsley purée, and a meaty fillet of cod in a lake of... More light, modern beurre blanc nuanced with tamarind.

Address:
8 Rue Malar
Paris
France

Phone:
33-1-47-05-18-18Less

6. L’As Du Fallafel

The aptly named L’As Du Fallafel ("the Ace of Falafel") is situated in the heart of the historically Jewish Marais neighborhood of Paris, a cobblestone landscape freckled by a dizzying number of falafel stands and kosher butchers. Among these, L’As is something of a legend owing almost entirely to its one-of-a-kind falafel sandwich,... More which includes grilled eggplant, cabbage, hummus, tahini, and hot sauce. Indeed, L’As falafel is renowned even in Israel. Take-out is the preferred modus operandi of locals and regulars, though dining-in (the atmosphere is lively, bordering on frenzied during peak lunch hours) makes for a slightly less messy experience. Still, this sandwich is so good you’ll be happy to stroll down Rue des Rosiers, soaking in the atmosphere and sunshine, with hummus dripping down your chin.

The homey Franco-Tunisian lunches served at this elegant North African food-and-crafts shop will leave you with enough cash for a pair of colorful handblown glass votives or a set of handmade stemware. For aesthetes, Le Comptoir de Tunisie will offer a total immersion of the senses between the delectable cuisine, upscale country house ambiance,... More and extensive array of tableware, jewelry, and gourmet goods. For lunch, try the fresh fruit salad (served with a splash of orange blossom) or the vegetarian m’hamsa (a traditional Tunisian "large seed meal").

Address:
30 Rue de Richelieu
Paris
France

Phone:
33-1-42-97-14-04Less

8. L’Entredgeu

L’Entredgeu is place few American visitors have know about, but the Parisian bistro is frequented and adored by locals. The name comes from noted chef-owner, Phillipe Tredgeu, who manages the cooking, and his wife, who expertly runs the front of the house. The tiny, unpretentious restaurant in the Batignolles-Monceau area is typically crammed, and... More the snug arrangement of the tables makes casual chatter with neighboring diners almost unavoidable. Waiters carry a blackboard menu announcing the seasonal bistro fare, which can include battered oysters, caramelised pork belly, and quail with foie gras. The fixed-prix menu presents a real bargain, around 30 euros, for classic, well-prepared French cuisine.

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